Identifying my UCAs

[dubdromic]

Hi folks. About a year ago I had a shop rip out the ACH system on my '06 LX470. As part of that work they put in new upper control arms and I'm having some trouble identifying them. The shop paperwork is a bit of a mess - it says "SPC adjustable upper control arms" but the part number is for the OE UCAs - and the shop manager doesn't remember. (Same deal with the rear coils, which I still can't identify...sigh.)

Anyway, is there a way to tell by just looking at them? I don't see any markings. I'm 99% sure they're SPC based on comparison to stock photos but wondering if anyone could confirm.

Cheers!

ps. Is it normal for the bushings to be that red color? Maybe those are spacers that picked up some mud/dirt...

 

[iwashmycar]

Hi folks. About a year ago I had a shop rip out the ACH system on my '06 LX470. As part of that work they put in new upper control arms and I'm having some trouble identifying them. The shop paperwork is a bit of a mess - it says "SPC adjustable upper control arms" but the part number is for the OE UCAs - and the shop manager doesn't remember. (Same deal with the rear coils, which I still can't identify...sigh.)

Anyway, is there a way to tell by just looking at them? I don't see any markings. I'm 99% sure they're SPC based on comparison to stock photos but wondering if anyone could confirm.

Cheers!

ps. Is it normal for the bushings to be that red color? Maybe those are spacers that picked up some mud/dirt...

SPC

bushing color is rust., as those parts are metal.


Also, question for probably everyone else who stops by....is that ball joint installed backwards? I didnt think it was supposed to hang out the side so much, and according to the instructions the curved part of the joint faces rearward for the most part (depending on caster setting)

 

[dubdromic]

Thank you!

 

[dubdromic]

Here's a photo off the ball joint from below. (Also just now seeing the patent number on the arm. Hah!)

 

[iwashmycar]

Yeah, thats backwards. It is set in none of the 7 positions it should / could be

https://www.spcalignment.com/instructions/25465-INS_WEB.pdf

 

[dubdromic]

NEAT. I've had two alignments on this since the suspension work was done, maybe tech flipped it at some point.

I've not worked on suspension like this before - is orienting it correctly just removing it from the arm, flipping, reattaching, and getting it aligned? Or can it be flipped without removal?

 

[menancyandsam]

Looks like SPC's. Clean off the flat area of that caster adjuster (part that is facing away, underneath the control arm) and you should see "SPC marking. See the instructions for properly position to get the caster adj you're looking for.

https://www.toyteclifts.com/mwdownloads/download/link/id/67/

Oh and it was suggested to torque to 175 lb/ft and don't forget to grease about every 5k miles.

 

[dubdromic]

Also...the truck tracks straight and rides perfectly. How on earth is it aligned if the ball joint is backward...? Sheer dumb luck?

 

[menancyandsam]

The instruction posted above mine is for a 200 series. Use the one I posted.
They are different. Your position looks position B = +2.75

 

[dubdromic]

Yeah I just noticed that. Figure 2 on this page shows that it's roughly at position B, like you said. Had a moment of panic, hah. Thanks for all the input!

 

[menancyandsam]

NP, curious how lifted are you.

 

[dubdromic]

I'm about 90% sure it has a 1.5" lift with the OME 2864s. That's part of my "I can't identify any of this" problem - the paperwork says they're 2863s but it's absolutely not a 3" lift.

 

[WTB]

Indeed SPCs. You should be set at position "D" 0.0* for factory alignment with a 2-3" lift according to the instructions, but I bet it tracks great with the additional caster. It could also be that the alignment shop just rotated the ball joint instead of adjusting the control arm bolts.

You may be running 860 or 863 springs as per toytec:

• OME-860 -- Medium Load for 00-07 Models, 2" Lift
• OME-863 -- Heavy Load (440 lbs to GVW) for 00-07 Models, 3" Lift

By the way, they likley installed the SPC UCAs to retain factory alignment with the OME lift. The SPCs and extended travel shocks are necessary to maintain factory "droop" of the suspension so you don't slam back into the ground after rolling over a sharp speed bump. Rides like a nice SUV instead of a covered wagon.

SPC UCA instructions:

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.spcalignment.com/instructions/25455-INS_WEB.pdf

DON'T FORGET TO GREASE THEM BOIS